Oldtimr

I didn't bother with the archery and muzzle loader break down in archery and muzzle loader seasons. The numbers in parentheses the previous season harvest.

03/13/2017

GAME COMMISSION RELEASES DEER HARVEST REPORT

HARRISBURG, PA - Pennsylvania’s buck harvest increased 9 percent, and the overall deer harvest was up 6 percent, in the 2016-17 seasons, which closed in January, the Pennsylvania Game Commission reported today.

Hunters harvested an estimated 333,254 deer in 2016-17 – an increase of about 6 percent compared to the 2015-16 harvest of 315,813.

Of those, 149,460 were antlered deer – an increase of about 9 percent compared to the previous license year, when an estimated 137,580 bucks were taken. It’s the largest harvest of antlered deer since 2002.

Hunters also harvested an estimated 183,794 antlerless deer in 2016-17, which represents an about 3 percent increase compared to the 178,233 antlerless deer taken in 2015-16.

Bowhunters accounted for nearly 33 percent of the overall deer harvest, taking 109,250 deer (59,550 bucks and 49,700 does) with archery tackle. Meanwhile, 20,409 deer (1,350 bucks and 19,059 does) were harvested during muzzleloader seasons.

The percentage of older bucks in the harvest remained high, with 56 percent of bucks taken by Pennsylvania hunters during the 2016-17 deer seasons being 2½ years old or older. In 2015-16, 59 percent of bucks in the harvest were 2 ½ years old or older.

Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough congratulated deer hunters on their successes afield during the 2016-17 seasons.

“This has been quite a year for Pennsylvania deer hunting,” Hough said. “Not only was there an increased deer harvest and a significantly higher buck harvest, I saw hundreds of photos from hunters who took their buck-of-a-lifetime this past season. Among them was a hunter whose Clearfield County harvest shattered the state record for nontypical bucks taken with archery tackle.

“To all of those hunters, and to everybody who made memories afield during the 2016-17 deer seasons, congratulations,” Hough said. “I couldn’t be happier for you and wish you the best of luck in the 2017-18 seasons, when hundreds more bucks-of-a-lifetime will be taken.”

Harvest estimates are based on more than 24,000 deer checked by Game Commission personnel and more than 100,000 harvest reports submitted by successful hunters. Because some harvests go unreported, estimates provide a more accurate picture of hunter success.

The antlerless harvest included about 64 percent adult females, about 20 percent button bucks and about 16 percent doe fawns. The rates are similar to long-term averages.

Agency staff currently is working to develop 2017-18 antlerless deer license allocation recommendations, which will be considered at the March 28 meeting of the Board of Game Commissioners.

Wayne Laroche, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management director, said that in addition to harvest data, staff will be looking at deer health measures, forest regeneration and deer-human conflicts for each WMU as antlerless allocations are considered for 2017-18.

Total deer harvest estimates by WMU for 2016-17 (with 2015-16 figures in parentheses) are as follows:



WMU 1A: 6,500 (6,000) antlered, 10,400 (9,100) antlerless;

WMU 1B: 7,900 (6,900) antlered, 8,200 (7,700) antlerless;

WMU 2A: 7,000 (6,500) antlered, 9,200 (10,500) antlerless;

WMU 2B: 5,800 (5,200) antlered, 14,000 (15,000) antlerless;

WMU 2C: 8,300 (9,100) antlered, 8,335 (8,490) antlerless;

WMU 2D: 12,800 (12,300) antlered, 16,400 (15,700) antlerless;

WMU 2E: 5,200 (4,700) antlered, 5,341 (5,300) antlerless;

WMU 2F: 7,700 (7,000) antlered, 6,700 (5,400) antlerless;

WMU 2G: 6,200 (6,100) antlered, 4,000 (4,100) antlerless;

WMU 2H: 1,900 (1,400) antlered, 1,900 (1,100) antlerless;

WMU 3A: 5,400 (4,300) antlered, 3,800 (4,000) antlerless;

WMU 3B: 7,500 (6,800) antlered, 7,300 (7,400) antlerless;

WMU 3C: 8,600 (7,600) antlered, 11,000 (10,500) antlerless;

WMU 3D: 4,300 (3,500) antlered, 4,200 (3,700) antlerless;

WMU 4A: 4,400 (5,100) antlered, 7,913 (8,670) antlerless;

WMU 4B: 5,200 (5,700) antlered, 6,200 (7,000) antlerless;

WMU 4C: 6,400 (5,400) antlered, 5,300 (5,000) antlerless;

WMU 4D: 7,900 (7,200) antlered, 7,533 (7,443) antlerless;

WMU 4E: 7,300 (6,200) antlered, 7,500 (6,900) antlerless;

WMU 5A: 3,000 (2,900) antlered, 4,000 (4,600) antlerless;

WMU 5B: 8,900 (8,000) antlered, 12,400 (11,500) antlerless;

WMU 5C: 8,300 (7,400) antlered, 15,600 (13,600) antlerless;

WMU 5D: 2,900 (2,200) antlered, 6,500 (5,200) antlerless; and

Unknown WMU: 60 (80) antlered, 70 (30) antlerless.

Bocajnala

I wish there was a way to know true harvest numbers. I know many hunters never bother reporting. For whatever reason. So is the 9% increase a harvest increase, or an increase in the amount of people reporting? Hard to say. I know we had a pretty good year this past year as a camp. Even though I myself didn't have a good year, we saw allot of deer.
-Jake

Oldtimr

That have a good handle on it believe it or not. The statistical formula they use takes into consideration the report rate of all 67 counties and while know a lot of people do not believe statistical information it is very close to being on the mark. The report rate has been developed over the years from info gathered at butcher shops and from info gathered from officers each year. I too wish there was no reason to doubt the harvest info but there is no one to blame but the hunters who have not and do not report their kills. Being around the system for many years I have confidence in the estimated kill.

Valentine

Then you go out and figure out an estimate of how many deer are in your hunting square mile.

Valentine

Must be time to check my waterproofing of my own boots.

Saw my uncle years ago, home from combat, waterproofing his own boots. Before most of you were even born.

Oldtimr

Would you like to translate that?

BarnesX.308

I think he's trying to make a metaphor about not trusting anyone but yourself. Thus, water-proofing your boots that are supposed to be waterproof. Maybe.....

I'm guessing he doesn't trust the PGC's estimates?

There are those that don't believe the numbers, those that do and those that don't care. Of course it is all influenced by their own personal experiences, which is understandable.

WV Hunter

Well regardless of the accuracy, at least it was a favorable review. A buddy of mine killed a HUGE buck opening day in PA... way bigger than any he's ever gotten in almost 40yrs of hunting.

In WV I'd say you could take the actual check in #'s and at a minimum triple it for deer harvest. I know guys that have hunted their whole lives and never checked one in. Its crazy the mindset of ALOT of folks. They opened phone/internet check in recently, I think that has to have helped. I know where we hunt, it was over 20 miles to a check in station that was open during opening week. Total pia.

mrbb

I don't think you will ever get exact numbers, way too many folks just don't play by the rules, and I do think the GC estimate is maybe CLOSE< but I don't think its 90% close/accurate either!
I know far too many guys that butcher there own deer, farmers that???
leaving that alone!
and well, guys just too lazy to call in or the likes.

I was at an auction not so long ago, and the estate being auctioned off, had about 5-7 mounted bucks's and a BIG box of antlers of smaller bucks.
and the auctioneer, even made the joke, a PA< hunter, look he had all his tags still on all his OLD PA lic, that we in a big box/
and the whole crowd started laughing, as sadly they know the reason?? as its unspoken words of the likes that is generations deep in many places in PA, its like a rights to passage in some area's to KILL more than one buck and or NOT use your tag .

But I do think this is being slowly changed here.
I personally wish there were check in required for deer like bears,

that would give better data I think on age's of deer and sizes, and at same time, get hands on info of hunters in area's of WHAT deer numbers are like.
when I hunted Ohio for yrs and yrs, it was nice, doing the check in's
there were TONS of places to do so, never seemed an issue to me, and I think local business's made more $$ off guys coming in to check in deer, even locals would stop in to look at pic's most took of kills.
I know ever time I checked a deer in there, I bought some things at the store during check in, drinks, ice, food ??

also got me to meet wardens there too, a plus to me, as they also got to meet and a few know me over the yrs, was a win win to me, but they went away from check in's so??

Bocajnala

I enjoyed Ohios check in process. Would often go to the check station in the evenings to see what came in and talk to other hunters. Ohio does it all online or via phone now though.
-Jake